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Live Analysis: Canada Beats the U.S. for Gold Medal

By The New York Times February 28, 2010 6:20 pmFebruary 28, 2010 6:20 pm

In-game analysis from the New York Times reporters Jeff Z. Klein, Charles McGrath and Greg Bishop at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver, and insights from The Times’s Slap Shot blog contributor Stu Hackel. Richard Sandomir, who covers sports media and business for The Times, shared thoughts about the broadcast. Post your thoughts about the game in the comment section below.

Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe Canadians showed off their gold medals after their victory Sunday.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia –- In the only gold medal game that really mattered here, in men’s hockey on Sunday afternoon, in front of thousands decked out in red and white, Canada skated with more pressure and more talent.

Against a younger, less experienced, less celebrated team from the United States, the Canadians controlled this game early. They jumped to an early lead and — after a late United States goal forced overtime — avenged their loss to the Americans earlier this tournament with a 3-2 victory at Canada Hockey Place.
The winning goal came from Sidney Crosby, one of Canada’s star players, but someone who had struggled in this tournament. Crosby broke free from his defender, took a pass and scored 7 minutes 40 seconds ino the overtime, then threw his gloves off and started jumping up and down on the ice.

The Canadians’ victory had seemed all but assured at the end of regulation, but the United States got a last-minute goal that bordered on miraculous. It came when forward Patrick Kane had his shot deflected, and the puck deflected off the skate of his teammate Jamie Langenbrunner.

Scoreboard

Forward Zach Parise grabbed the loose puck and fired low, quick, sure. With 24.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Parise had tied the score at 2-2. The stadium did not exactly go silent, but the noisy celebration certainly quieted momentarily.

Finally, in overtime Crosby sealed what the Canadians had longed for, and the gold medal was theirs to savor.

From the outset, Team Canada attacked the Americans’ hotshot goaltender, Ryan Miller. Team Canada protected his counterpart, Roberto Luongo, like bodyguards surrounding an important politician.

Instead of caving under the enormous weight of their expectations –- from hockey fans, from locals, from one end of this country to the other -– the Canadians seemed buoyed by the boisterous atmosphere inside. They dominated early, and dominated often, and when it ended, all of Canada rejoiced.

Because on Sunday, Canada indeed managed to Own the Podium. And it did so in the one event that mattered most.

Doug Mills/The New York TimesSidney Crosby of Canada celebrated his game winning goal on Sunday.

Thirty years after the Team USA birthed the phrase “Miracle on Ice,” one week after it stunned the favored Canadians in an epic preliminary round game, the neighbors staged the rematch. At stake: national pride, border bragging rights, coveted gold medals.

Brian Burke, the general manager for Team USA, noted last week that the pressure had long been placed squarely on the Canadians. It started the day Vancouver was named host city, and built with frightening intensity, with each goal, victory and advancement.

His goal gave the Team Canada its first lead and the Americans their first deficit in this tournament, while snapping Miller’s shutout streak at some 124 minutes.

Miller’s net-minding prowess had carried Team USA into this finale, past Switzerlandand Finland, even Canada the first time. He entered this game with a .954 save percentage, but on the Canadian’ first two goals Miller’s defense betrayed him with a breakdown.

The second came midway through the second period, when forward Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Duncan Keith delivered the puck to forward Corey Perry, who was surprisingly alone, in front of the Americans’ net. His score put Canada up, 2-0, as the crowd rose and roared.

The Canadian goaltender Roberto Luongo played near perfect early, blocking low shots and wide shots, from close range and long distance. Luongo plays here all year, minding net for the Vancouver Canucks, and he replaced Martin Brodeur, the National Hockey League’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts, in the surprise move of this tournament.

Luongo employs the butterfly goaltending style, more fluid and nimble in the net. But he had given up some head-scratching goals here, including one against Slovakia that changed the tenor of Canada’s semifinal victory, requiring Luongo to secure several acrobatic saves in the final seconds.

The first goal Luongo allowed on Sunday came from a familiar face, his Canucks teammate, Ryan Kesler. The American forward Patrick Kane sent a missile from outside, and Kesler deflected the puck off of his professional hockey teammate and into the goal. The United States had cut the deficit in half and trailed, 2-1, entering the final period.

Played in an N.H.L.-sized rink, this resembled the N.H.L. game more than the usual Olympic version. Neither team showcased superior stick skills, or artistic skating.

Instead, they played the old-fashioned, knock-down, went-to-a-wrestling-match-and-a-hockey-game-broke-out version. Players were sent flying over boards, onto opposing benches, into crammed corners with sharpened elbows.

Burke had built the American roster with young, fast, hungry players, passing repeatedly on older, more established veterans. Canada did not take the same approach. It did not need to, with its strikingly large pool of talent, with players of Crosby’s stature basically disappearing during this tournament.

This contest marked not only a rematch from last week but also from the gold medal game in 2002 at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Canada won that game, 5-2, and eight years later, they played again, the crowd reversed.

The crowd was dotted with celebrities, among them the singer Neil Young and the actor Vince Vaughn. The stands started to fill an hour before face-off, with Canadian flags and hockey jerseys, with painted wigs and painted faces, the color scheme a matching white and red.

The United States had its scoring chances down the stretch, but Luongo continued with solid play, boosted by the deep core of defensemen that surrounded him. This moment belonged to Canada, to its hockey fans and its Winter Olympics fans, who watched the home team secure the most important gold. — Greg Bishop

6:14 p.m.|Emrick Lets the Moment Happen

From the moment he called Sidney Crosby’s game-winning goal (“It’s over. The gold medal to Canada!”), NBC’s Mike Emrick stayed silent for 1 minute 40 seconds. He gave all the silence he needed to see the joyous reactions of the gold medal-winning Canadians or the disconsolate Americans. Then, he came back, not with a recap, but with four words: “Now comes the handshakes.” — Richard Sandomir

5:48 p.m.|Canada Wins, 3-2

Sidney Crosby scores the winning goal. Nash takes a hard shot that Miller fights off, the U.S. can’t effectively counterattack in the first seven minutes of overtime. Scott Niedermayer gets stripped of the puck by Pavelski but Luongo stops it. Then Canada comes down the ice and Sidney Crosby scores to win it for Canada. — Stu Hackel

5:48 p.m.|Wide Open

The first three minutes is wide open as teams go all out for the winner. None of the chances are dangerous, although every shot could be dangerous in this situation. The Jarome Iginla-Sidney Crosby duo for Canada gets a good chance, then the Marleau Thornton duo gets one that Miller stops. Canada is getting the better chances at the moment. with five minutes gone in overtime. — Stu Hackel

5:47 p.m.|Overtime Begins

Overtime is four on four. It’s 20 minutes, sudden death. They go to a shootout if it stays scoreless. Four on four could theortecally favor the U.S. with the faster team and more ice to play with. — Stu Hackel

5:41 p.m.|Roenick Choking Up

Between periods, NBC’s Jeremy Roenick got close to the emotional state of verklempt, which Mike Myers occasionally attained while playing Linda Richman, the host of “Coffee Talk,” one of “Saturday Night Live’s” great running sketches.

Through a choked voice, Roenick said, “Someone tonight is going to be a national hero,” and then: “I’m going to cry. I can’t believe this is happening.” Which goalie, Ryan Miller or Roberto Luongo, is playing like buttah? — Richard Sandomir

Doug Mills/The New York TimesWith 24.4 seconds to play, Zach Parise of the U.S. tied the score.

5:39 p.m.|How the U.S. Scored

The U.S. swarmed in Canada’s zone in the last minute with the extra man. They continued fighting for pucks and when Canada cleared the zone, they came right back in. Canada could not stop them at the blue line and the U.S. — with desperation — stayed at it. Roberto Luongo’s shaky glove hand, which plagued him all game, played a role as he couldn’t freeze the puck and the U.S. recovered and set up the game-tying goal. Now it’s a one-shot game for the gold medal and anything can happen. — Stu Hackel

5:33 p.m.|Gretzky Falls to His Seat

The Times’s Jeffrey Marcus is three rows from Wayne Gretzky, who fell to his seat and covered his face with his hands when Zach Parise scored. Stephen Harper, the prime minister of Canada, is slouched in his seat, staring at the scoreboard.

5:25 p.m.|United States 2, Canada 2

With 24.4 seconds to play, Zach Parise ties the score and the game is going to overtime. Dustin Brown shot from the corner as time expired. The game is tied 2-2. The replay of the goal shows that after Patrick Kane shot, the puck hit Langenbrunner’s skate and bounced right to Parise, who put it over Roberto Luongo. — Stu Hackel

5:20 p.m.|Kane Thwarts Crosby

The U.S. presses forward, not getting shots, but Sidney Crosby breaks away from the pack and takes the puck the other way. He never gets a shot off with around three minutes remaining. Patrick Kane skated back and tied up his stick — great skating by Kane catching Crosby from behind. — Stu Hackel

5:16 p.m.|Americans Pressing, to No Avail

The U.S. top line buzzes around goalie Roberto Luongo but can’t convert, the Ryan Kesler line comes on and can’t really get into the zone, first getting stopped at the blue line and finally going off side. The Americans are carrying the play with about seven minutes left, but they are not allowed to get scoring chances.

Canada is clogging up the neutral zone and making it tough for the U.S. to advance the puck. They do work it in and Brian Rafalski moves deep into the zone, but Luongo smothers it with five minutes left. Six shots each team this period, but Canada hasn’t had one in a while. They had six in the first four minutes and it’s been the U.S. trying to turn up the heat in the second half of the period. — Stu Hackel

5:15 p.m.|Dear NBC: How About a Crawl Showing Line Changes?

While viewers have reveled in the relatively uncluttered screens during Olympic events like the USA-Canada game, here’s one idea to restore some clutter: a bottom-line crawl to show each team’s line changes. It would be especially illustrative of what NBC’s Eddie Olczyk said was USA Coach Ron Wilson’s search for the right line combinations to overcome the one-goal deficit. — Richard Sandomir

Doug Mills/The New York TimesRyan Kesler of the U.S. scored in the second period.

5:13 p.m.|Nerves Starting to Show

Patrick Kane made a bad pass in his own zone and Ryan Miller had to bail him out as Dany Heatley took two dangerous shots from 15 feet out and then on the doorstop. Inside the last 10 minutes, Ryan Getzlaf turned it over to Ryan Malone who skated a long way and shot and Roberto Luongo stopped that. The nerves are starting to show. The goalies are keeping the score at 2-1. — Stu Hackel

5:10 p.m.|Miller Keeping the U.S. in the Game

Reporters continue to talk about Ryan Miller in the media center. He’s blocked 24 shots in this game, and the two goals he allowed both came in large part because of defensive breakdowns. As the U.S. tries to tie this game, their hopes rests largely with Miller. He continues to make save after save. — Greg Bishop

5:06 p.m.|Time for U.S. to Take Some Risks?

The U.S. is not getting any sustained pressure in the offensive zone, but Canada is. The U.S. shoots it in but Canada recovers. They try to skate it in but Canada blocks shots or Roberto Luongo holds for a faceoff. Canada is playing smart with the lead and, with 11 minutes left, the U.S. is going to have to start taking more risks if they want to tie. — Stu Hackel

5:04 p.m.|Update

Canada is the better team early in the period starts with seven shots in the first four minutes. The last shot came off a poorly played puck by Ryan Miller chipping it along the boards that Canada recovered. The Corey Perry-Ryan Getzlaf duo is dangerous every time they are on the ice (and they are teammates in Anaheim). — Stu Hackel

5:00 p.m.|Third Period Begins

Third period now and for Canada, playing with the lead means not retreating into a shell, but continuing to attack, but to do so with intelligence, preventing odd -an rushes and trying to stay out of the penalty box.

For the Americans., they’ve played with some abandon all game, and they’ve also committed more turnovers. But they need a goal to tie and they won’t change their game much.

Canada hits the post to Ryan Miller’s right in the first minute. Weber took the shot that Ryan Suter deflected and it clanged of the post. Then Chris Pronger hit the post shortly afterward. — Stu Hackel

4:53 p.m.|For U.S., Power Play Has Been Ineffective

Second period opened up a little as both teams found some ice to skate in. Shots even. But during intermission Coach Wilson has to grab the whiteboard and diagram a power play that at least keeps the puck in the zone. So far the U.S. has been worse than ineffectual with a man advantage. On the penalty kill for the Americans, Drury and Callahan were fearless shot-blockers, as they’ve been all along. — Charles McGrath

Doug Mills/The New York TimesRyan Callahan of the U.S. chased down a puck as Scott Niedermayer of Canada fell to the ice.

4:55 p.m.|Bud Palmer Recalls 1960

Bud Palmer, who called the hockey for CBS during the 1960 Winter Olympics, watched today’s gold medal game from his home in Palm Beach, Fla.

“I don’t like to watch big sports events with other people,” he said by telephone. “They have a tendency to talk.”

During an interview between the first and second periods, Palmer, 88, called today’s game “even, very hard hitting.”

His memory naturally drifted back 50 years to when the U.S. team beat the Soviet Union en route to winning the gold medal.

“That 1960 game was a much bigger upset than 1980 was,” he said. Before the Squaw Valley Games, he said the team was “picked by many to finish last.” And there was dissension over Coach Jack Riley’s late decision to the brothers Bill and Bob Cleary to the team. “A lot of players said they came in as a package,” he said.

The arena in Squaw Valley had one side totally open to the winter air in the California mountains. Walter Cronkite was CBS’s host. Walt Disney was the head of entertainment. “And there were no videotape, either, just kinescopes,” he said.

He said the U.S. team had little time to celebrate beating the Soviets.

“They had to play the Czechs the next morning at 8,” he said. With the U.S. trailing Czechoslovakia, 4-3, after two periods, he recalled that one of the Soviets, Nikolai Solobugov, appeared in the Americans’ dressing room. “He was the captain of the Soviet team, and still had some shrapnel from Stanlingrad. He had oxygen and insisted that everyone take some, while he gave the Americans a pep talk in Russian, because he spoke no English.”

He added: “You laugh, and they laughed. But they scored six goals in the final period.

“He had more dislike for the Czechs than the U.S., and the Soviets had a pretty good time in California.”

Palmer, an original Knick, rattled off the Soviets’ first line as surely as Mike Emrick unfurls Russian names — “Loktev, Almetov, Aleksandrov,” he said. — Richard Sandomir

4:53 p.m.|Opportunity for U.S.

The shots in the second period were 15 for each team and for the game, Canada has 25, the U.S. 23. It was a wide open period and for most of it, Canada’s superiority and depth at the forward position told the story. And that means their defensive awareness as well. But they did break down leading to the U.S. goal, leaving the middle of the ice wide open and the U.S. with the puck. Once they scored the U.S. got life and the momentum that followed. Roberto Luongo does not look comfortable in the net for Canada and if that continues, the U.S. may have something to exploit in the third period. — Stu Hackel

Doug Mills/The New York TimesJonathan Toews of Canada scored the first period’s only goal.

4:45 p.m.|Americans Among the Canadian Fans

Ryan Kesler’s goal that cut the deficit to 2-1, a great redirection of a Patrick Kane pass past Roberto Luongo, showed how many Americans fans are at the rink today. A considerable roar went up from the crowd, and it wasn’t from Canuck fans glad to see their forward scoring on their goalie.

4:39 p.m.|End of Second Period: Canada 2, U.S. 1

In the last two minutes of the period, it’s Canada’s turn to press. Stall had a breakway but fired wide. The United States gets a turn and Roberto Luongo once again has trouble with the puck, as he tries to smother it and in bounces away. — Stu Hackel

4:38 p.m.|Ryan Miller Showing Confidence

With four minutes left, the U.S. continues to press. Canada goalie Roberto Luongo has one pop out of his glove and it goes wide.

A quick counterattack by Eric Staal, and Ryan Miller freezes a puck that bounced high and came down in his crease. He’s the more confident goalie right now. — Stu Hackel

4:34 p.m.|U.S. Goes Back to Kesler Line

Wilson throws Ryan Kesler’s line out again, playing the hot hand. Roberto uongo is not making clean saves right now, seemingly fighting the puck. With five minutes left in the period the U.S. has life. They are coming in waves and now outshooting Canada on the period, 11-9. — Stu Hackel

Wonder if they’ll talk about that in the locker room next week. — Greg Bishop

4:27 p.m.|Canada 2, United States 1

Ryan Kesler scores. The pace quickens and both goalies are forced to make good stops, Ryan Miller reaching with his glove to smother a puck loose in his crease and stop play. The Patrick Kane-Ryan Kesler-Dustin Brown line comes on and they rush into the zone. Kane shoots and Kesler cuts to the net, perhaps deflecting it and it goes past goalie Roberto Luongo. The U.S. cuts the deficit to 2-1.

The U.S. team had lots of room through the netural zone to attack with speed, and that’s how they tied the game.– Stu Hackel

4:26 p.m.|U.S. Can’t Capitalize, Again

Now Toews is whistled for tripping Suter and the U.S. gets the extra man. In the middle of the second period special teams are the story. Can the U.S. get better pressure this time? Halfway though, not really. The one chance the Americans had, Nash made a nice play, diving to get the puck from Kesler and clearing the zone. Roberto Luongo then makes a couple of saves but the penalty expired. Some better pressure that time, but not enough. — Stu Hackel

4:24 p.m.|In the Crowd, Lots of Red and White, if Not the Blue

The crowd here is getting louder and louder. And louder. Buoyed by Canada’s first two goals and some rough on-ice action, they’re really getting into it. One sign read, Can’t Touch Vancouver, but more impressive is the sheer amount of red and white. It’s almost as if the stands in the building are painted that color. That’s how many hats and jerseys and flags there are in the seats. — Greg Bishop

The better the Canadians play, the louder it’s going to get. Granville Street will be utter madness in two hours.

Chang W. Lee/The New York TimesChris Drury of the U.S. shot while under pressure from Canada’s Scott Niedermayer.

4:20 p.m.|Canada’s Deep Defense

Canadian reporters in the media center are discussing how their country has a much deeper stable of defensemen. I think we’ve seen that early here. Team USA is relying a lot, as it has all tournament, on Ryan Miller to make saves. Meanwhile, the Canadians have done a better job of clearing and keeping their goalie out of trouble. — Greg Bishop

4:17 p.m.|Canada 2, U.S. 0

Corey Perry gives Canada a 2-0 lead. Canada gets some momentum from the penalty kill and the Anaheim duo, Ryan Getzlaf and Perry combine to score for Canada. They broke in the zone, and Patrick Marleau went hard to the net, Getzlaf found Perry breaking in behind Marleau, hit him with a pass and he had a lot of net to shoot at with the traffic in front of Miller. — Stu Hackel

4:14 p.m.|U.S. Kills Penalty

Canada passes the puck deliberately with the extra man and Ryan Miller stops Joe Thornton in the most dangerous play in the early part of the man advantage. Miller stops another, Chris Drury blocks a shot and the penalty expires. Just as it does, Eric Staal is called for interference and the U.S. gets a chance with the extra man.

Soon after, Canada effectively kills the penalty; the U.S. isn’t allowed to set up in the offensive zone. They get one shot and it’s over. — Stu Hackel

4:11 p.m.|Ryan Miller’s Calming Presence

It’s interesting to watch Ryan Miller, the Team USA goaltender. He brings such a calming presence to the ice. He looks like a Zen master, and he’s very fluid in his movements. He doesn’t seem to get rattled easily.

It’s easy to see how he went more than 111 minutes without allowing a goal, a streak snapped when Canada scored in the first period. But Miller has carried Team USA this far. His calming presence should bode well as this game wears on. — Greg Bishop

4:08 p.m.|Second Period Begins

The second period starts and Babcock had the Toews line start against the top U.S. line. On the second shift, a turnover by the U.S. leads to a quick backhander by Jarome Iginla that Ryan Miller stopped. Again, some sloppy play in their own zone by the U.S.

A penalty to Ryan Malone sends Canada to the power play. It’s a high sticking call on Malone who got his stick up on Corey Perry. Not a good penalty to take in the offensive zone. — Stu Hackel

4:02 p.m.|At 21, Toews Is Making an Impact

Pretty even first period, despite the score. Both teams came out hard, as a expected, and were tough and physical along the boards. Though only 21, Jonathan Toews, who got the goal, has been one of the strongest two-way players for the Canadians all along.

His line was largely responsible for shutting down Alex Ovechkin and company in the Russia game. Interesting that Brian Rafalski, on defense for the U.S., isn’t afraid to pinch in and join the attack. He would never have gotten away with that when he played with the New Jersey Devils! — Charles McGrath

Doug Mills/The New York TimesCanada’s Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Malone of the U.S. battle in 1st period.

3:59 p.m.|Breaking Down Toews’s Goal

The decisive play in that period, goal by Jonathan Toews, was because of Babccck’s desire to have the Toews line out against the U.S. top line. Wilson wanted his top line out against the Shark line but there was an icing call that allowed Babcock to make the change and it paid off. That was Babcock’s strategy against the Russians as well, having the Toews line out against Alex Ovechkin’s line and that paid off handsomely for Canada. Other than that, Canada had the better of the play, spending more time in the attacking zone than the U.S.

The period ended with Canada leading in total shots, 10-8. — Stu Hackel

3:58 p.m.|Gold Medal Game, N.H.L. Style

A well-played, evenly played first period here in the N.H.L. style, as you’d expect from these two teams, amid an electric atmosphere. And the only goal came as the result of an N.H.L.-style play — Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews ganging up on the U.S. defenseman to take the puck away after a faceoff deep in the U.S. end, punishing the Americans for having taken a needless icing. Miller had no chance on the shot from in close, ending his Olympic shutout string at 124:28. — Jeff Z. Klein

The first time the Americans have fallen behind in this tournament, eh?

Todd Korol/ReutersThe Canadians scored the first goal.

3:49 p.m.|End of First Period: Canada 1, U.S. 0

The period winds down and Canada is outshooting the U.S., 10-5. The U.S. has had a lot of shots blocked and has not been on target with some of its attempts. But Canada has been the better team, although not by a huge margin. Play slows down as the period ends, with a few whistles.

As the clock expires, the U.S. had a good chance on Roberto Luongo, that he fought off, a shot by Ryan Callahan. The teams come together for some pushing and shoving but nothing comes of it. — Stu Hackel

Matt
Slocum/Associated PressRyan Miller, left, and Tim Gleason stopped a shot from Canada in the first period.

3:46 p.m.|U.S. Kills a Penalty

Now Bobby Ryan is called for tripping and Canada gets a big chance to extend its lead. It’s a critical early moment. Canada is getting traffic in front of Ryan Miller which they didn’t do in their first game. But the U.S. penalty kill is good through the first minute. Eric Staal got a good pass from Sidney Crosby but Miller made a good stop and the penalty is killed. — Stu Hackel

3:43 p.m.|A Friendly Wager?

The best bet overheard in the press center is between President Obama and Stephen Harper, the prime minister of Canada. Word is Obama has Yuengling, a tasty beer, riding on the outcome. Harper went with Molson.

Is it just me, or is that an unfair wager? For Molson, Obama should have gone with Miller High Life, the Champagne of beers. — Greg Bishop

3:39 p.m.|Canada 1, United States 0

Jonathan Toews strikes first for Canada. The Sidney Crosby line with Eric Staal and Jarome Iginla puts some pressure on the U.S. They don’t have many points but they are always dangerous.

The Canadians get a whistle and are able to get the Shark line off the ice against the U.S. top line and right off the faceoff it pays off as Toews scores to make it 1-0 for Canada. After the U.S. won the faceoff, Richards shot and Toews put the rebound past Ryan Miller. — Stu Hackel

3:38 p.m.|Sashay? Tremendous.

In the search for scintillating hockey phraseology, it might be impossible to surpass the “tremendously tremendous” remark made last week by NBC’s Eddie Olczyk during Team USA’s 5-3 win over Canada last Sunday.

I confess that I’ve never heard a hockey announcer use “sashay,” as Mike Emrick did.
“Toews,” he said of Canada’s Jonathan Toews, “who’s nicely able to sashay away and start it back out.” — Richard Sandomir

3:38 p.m.|U.S. Leads in Shots

A big chance for the Kane-Kesler-Brown line is stopped by Roberto Luongo. This line is able to play in Canada’s zone so far today. With 11 minutes gone, the U.S. is credited with a 3-2 lead in shots but is feels as if Canada has had more than two. — Stu Hackel

3:36 p.m.|Physical Play

It’s not surprising how physical this game has been so far, but regardless, it’s entertaining to watch. Brooks Orpik of Team U.S.A. just shoved Canada’s Mike Richards over the boards and nearly onto the U.S. bench. Jack Johnson was also mixing it up with the Canadians, engaging in some extra curricular shoving.

N.H.L. fans can only hope there will be a fight. — Greg Bishop

3:33 p.m.|U.S. a Bit Shaky on Defense

Good team defense by the U.S. prevents a potential breakdown when Brian Rafalski fell trying to advance the puck. Then a body check by Brooks Orpik puts Dany Heatley into the boards, The U.S. is then bailed out when David Backes’ stick breaks and he loses the puck. Ryan Miller bails him out when he stops Nash’s shot. The U.S. is a bit shaky defensively at the moment. — Stu Hackel

3:31 p.m.|Canada and Pressure

One of the big questions heading into this game was how the Canadians would handle the pressure. All week, I’ve walked from the main media center here through downtown on Granville Street. Often, everyone there is drunk. And almost always, all they talk about is hockey.

As our hockey writers reported this morning, Brian Burke, the general manager for the Americans, noted this pressure in recent news conferences, saying it started the “day they awarded the Games to Vancouver.”

In the first period here, though, the Canadians do not appear to be playing tight. They look loose, as if they’re feeding off the loud crowd. — Greg Bishop

3:29 p.m.|U.S. Penetrating Canada’s Zone

On their second time on ice the top U.S. line is against the Sharks line and gets some penetration into Canada’s zone. Wilson may like that matchup because his top line is faster than the Sharks.

Canada is blocking lots of U.S. shots early. The U.S. will have to get those shots through to Canada goalie Roberto Luongo. The U.S. is also missing the target a lot. Five minutes in, the pace is good. The U.S. has two shots on goal, Canada only one. — Stu Hackel

3:27 p.m.|The First Minutes

Our hockey writers wrote this morning that the first few minutes of this game could prove crucial for both teams.

They noted that Canada beat the stuffing out of Russia in the quarterfinals mainly because it dominated from the beginning. They pointed out that the United States took that same approach against Finland, attacking, attacking, then attacking some more.

The first few minutes here were relatively uneventful. It looked more like a National Hockey League-style game than an Olympic-style one — no surprise, given the teams involved, and the N.H.L.-sized rink. — Greg Bishop

3:22 p.m.|We’re Off

The U.S. wears blue, Team Canada wears white the puck is dropped and Jonathan Toews, Mike Richards and Rick Nash are out for Canada against the top U.S. line. Not much happens until the second shift when the Canadians work along the boards begins. They dig and dig and set up a shot that Ryan Miller deflects into the crowd. The physical component of this game may be a deciding factor. — Stu Hackel

3:19 p.m.|Update

The atmosphere inside Canada Hockey Place is exactly as expected — electric. The ground beneath our feet is shaking. A quick glance at the crowd shows thousands and thousands of Canadians, with a few Americans mixed in. The most shown American in the arena is without a doubt Vince Vaughn, the actor. He’s wearing a United States hockey jersey and seems to be enjoying the scene. I’m going to put the over-under for Vaughn camera shots at 15. And take the over. — Greg Bishop

3:13 p.m.|Get Out the Cape, Paint Your Face

At 7:30 this morning there were two dozen Canadians with red and white face paint, the maple leaf insignia stenciled on their cheeks, lined up outside Malone’s bar at the corner of Pender and Seymour. They were waiting just to get a stool with a good view of the TV.

The Canadian guy wearing an Olympic cape and a white hockey helmet with a red light on top is here at the arena, as he has been for every Team Canada game. Only his light isn’t flashing today. Maybe his batteries are dead? (Update: I take it back. He’s flashing again and leading a cheering section.)

Meanwhile, before the game, there is a big hand for Kevin Martin, skip of the Canadian gold medal curling team. He used to play hockey but traded the stick for the boom. — Charles McGrath

3:11 p.m.|Don Cherry Appears, in Red Suede

Let the hyperbole begin: NBC’s Jeremy Roenick said in the pregame that the Canada-U.S. match is “the biggest game in hockey history here.” Good touch: NBC trots out the CBC’s Don Cherry, in red suede, for predictions (Canada wins 5-3). — Richard Sandomir

3:05 p.m.|The Crowd Is Wearing Red

Just took a quick lap around Canada Hockey Place to gauge the atmosphere. The crowd is starting to filter inside in drunken droves. So high is the anticipation that I saw one man wearing a Canada hockey jersey jump into the air and kick his heels.

The unscientific ratio from a 10-minute walk through the arena showed the crowd numbers heavily in favor for the Canadians. The vast majority of people headed to their seats were wearing red, and only a scattered few had U.S. hockey jerseys on.

The best part: I overheard one guy bragging about how he had been offered $10,000 for his ticket – and turned it down. Only in Canada. Only for this game. — Greg Bishop

3:02 p.m.|Roberto Luongo’s Moment

At dinner last night in the Gastown district, the former mayor of Vancouver, Sam Sullivan, and his fiancé, shared the same concern as millions of Canadians, even if they aren’t exactly sports fans. They were worried about Roberto Luongo, the goaltender for both Canada and the Vancouver Canucks.

Luongo started the opening Winter Olympics game for Canada, but was expected to ride the pine from there on out. Instead, Martin Brodeur, the National Hockey League’s all-time leader in win’s and shutouts, struggled the first time against the United States, and Luongo vaulted into the starting lineup.

The Canadian coaches chose Luongo’s butterfly, rangy style, over Brodeur’s more straight-up game. Luongo made several acrobatic saves against Slovakia, but has also allowed enough “weak” goals to give Canadians concern.

Central to Sullivan’s questions were what would happen if Luongo lost this gold medal game, especially if he played terribly, then had to resume the season with the Canucks, on the same ice. Worse yet, what if the American Ryan Kesler, his Canucks teammate, scores the winning goal?

For the tournament, Luongo has a 1.67 goals against average and a 92.42 save percentage. Will the U.S. get to him?

We will soon find out. — Greg Bishop

2:42 p.m.|Canada Must Neutralize U.S. Speed

Before the Americans feel too good about their performances coming into this game, it should be kept in mind that in both games the undefeated Americans have won, the goaltending they faced underperformed badly. Martin Brodeur was uncharacteristically shaky, especially handling the puck, in the U.S.-Canada game, and in the semifinal, Miikka Kiprusoff similarly played below his usual standards in the Americans’ 6-1 win on Friday.

That said, in both cases, the speed of the United States team was largely responsible for these two veteran goalies — and the teams in front of them – falling behind early and not being able to mount a comeback. Canada gets a second chance now and, knowing how their coaching and management team operates (led by Coach Mike Babcock), it’s a safe assumption they will try to devise a game play to neutralize the Americans’ speed.

That means Canada will want to get the players on the ice who can effectively play against the likes of the Zach Parise-Paul Stastny-Jamie Langenbrunner top line, and the also the second line which features the fast Jonathan Kane. Because the U.S. has the last change, it will be harder for Babcock to get the forwards on that he wants on faceoffs, but he will do everything he can to make sure his top defensive pairs are sent on when he thinks Ron Wilson will be throwing the top speed at them.

That will mean Scott Niedermayer and Shea Weber, first of all, and the Blackhawks duo of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith with Drew Doughty, who has played better and better as the tournament has progressed, working in there as well.

Canada will also try to stop the U.S. from getting started, getting the puck deep in the U.S. end and working on the defensemen carrying the puck. That could mean that Babcock will want to get physical with Brian Rafalski early and try to wear him down. Raflaski has been the offensive catalyst for the U.S. all tournament. He also may instruct his team to try to make the less-skilled American defenders – Tim Gleason and Brooks Orpik – handle the puck, hoping they will turn it over.

The U.S. will also want to get the puck deep on Canada and get in quick, hoping their speed causes Canada to rush its decisions and turn the puck over. Their forecheck has been a big factor in their success this tournament and Wilson won’t be changing what has worked for him.

Penalty killing and shot blocking have also been major components of the Americans’ game and they will have to continue strong for the U.S. to prevail.

Of course, much of the game will be decided in goal. Ryan Miller has been heroic for the U.S. and he’ll have to maintain his standard of play today. If he falters, Canada will sense it and try to pour it on as they did against Russia. The same is true the other way and Roberto Luongo, who replaced Brodeur after the U.S. game, cannot afford to give the U.S. any soft goals.

The key to the game may be in the first 10 minutes. If one team can’t match the other’s intensity and determination, or if a lucky break or bounce puts one team on top early, it will be a challenge to stop the momentum. Both teams have had explosive offensive episodes recently against quality opponents who couldn’t stop the bleeding, so how teams play after surrendering a goal may prove significant.

If the first part of the game is roughly equal, we could be in for a pretty entertaining afternoon. — Stu Hackel

Kim Stallknecht for The New York TimesRyan Miller, left, stopped 42 of 45 shots against Canada in the teams’ preliminary round game.

Kim Stallknecht for The New York TimesSunday’s gold medal men’s hockey game will most likely be trench warfare, fought in the corners, along the boards, in the no-man’s land in front of the net. Read More

Miller has a determined group of young players full of bravado in front of him who have blocked numerous shots. It helped him immensely when he faced upwards of 40 shots from the high-powered Canada offense in the team’s first meeting here last week. But the difference makers were the three U.S. veterans. Brian Rafalski had two goals. Jamie Langenbrunner had another key score. And Chris Drury did the dirty work. Drury’s inclusion on the roster was criticized, but Wilson and Brian Burke, the team’s general manager, have defended his inclusion.

“”There’s two good teams playing and someone is going to be very happy. We expect it’s going to be us.””

— Coach Mike Babcock, Team Canada

After the U.S. defeated Switzerland in the quarterfinal, Wilson sang Drury’s praises, while getting in a dig at the media critics.

“Chris Drury, who unanimously shouldn’t be on our team if the media picked the team, blocked more shots than you guys made typos, and that’s a phenomenal number,” he said.

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The New York Times Olympics and Paralympics blog will report on the athletes, sports and issues of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. It will feature news, analysis, first-person accounts and discussion items from the training ice to the downhill slopes.

The police shut down a major bridge into Vancouver’s downtown, and bus service was temporarily suspended as thousands of hockey fans and Olympic celebrants continued to crowd the city’s downtown on Sunday night. Read more…